CBDT targets 1.25 crores new return filers during FY 2017-18

CBDT targets 1.25 crores new return filers during FY 2017-18 who have not filed return in the previous three Financial Years (2014-15 to 2016-17) 

Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in a letter dated 27th Sep, 2017 written to all Principal Chief Commissioners of Income Tax has allocated targets for adding new Income Tax Return filers during FY 2017-18.

As per the said letter, during the Rajaswa Gyan Sangam- 2017 it was decided that focused efforts will be made by the Income Tax Department to significantly increase the tax base during the current financial year. Accordingly, the Board has decided that an all-India target of adding 1.25 crore new income-tax return filers may be set for FY 2016-17 to concentrate efforts of the Department to this critical key result area.

CBDT has assigned the the targets for new ITR for different Regions as under:

In order to distribute the target amongst the CCIT Regions, the CBDT has adopted the following parameters/criteria:

• The number of new return filers added during FY 2016-
• The size of current tax base (number of existing return filers).
• Number of potential non -filers under NMS under categories P 1, P2 and P3

CBDT has clarified that the above targets are in respect of number of new return filers and not number of new taxpayers and, therefore, the number of new taxpayers who have tax credit in Form 26AS but have not filed will not be counted towards achievement of the target. A ‘new return filer’ for this purpose is defined as a person who has not filed return in the previous three Financial Years (2014-15 to 2016-17) but has filed return in the current financial year.